Hand tool

ABSTRACT

An improved hand tool for rotating screws and other articles of like character which are designed to be turned or rotated in an infinitely fine or coarse rotation without disengaging or repositioning the grip of the driving tool. The tool includes an elongated driven member having a replaceable bit in the form of a screw driving member or the like at one end thereof. At the other end of the tool is a handle made up of a plurality of drive rolls each having one way clutch members engaging the driven member. One of the clutch members engages the driven member upon rotation in a clockwise direction and disengages when rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The other clutch member engages upon rotation in a counterclockwise direction and disengages when rotated in a clockwise direction. By positioning the handgrip on the drive rolls rotation may be provided to that clutch member for rotation and engagement of the driven member in a desired direction for very fine or alternatively coarse movement of the screws or other members of like character.

Mar. 4, 1975 United States Patent [191 Newcomb ABSTRACT HAND TOOL Inventor: Dean R. Newcomb, Macedon, N.Y. An improved hand tool for rotating screws and other Xerox Corporation, Stamford Conn.

articles of like character which are designed to be turned or rotated in an infinitely fine or coarse rotation without disengaging or repositioning the grip of Assignee:

[22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1973 the driving tool. The tool includes an elongated driven Appl. No.: 422,633

member having a replaceable bit in the form of a screw driving member or the like at one end thereof.

At the other end of the tool is a handle made up of a plurality of drive rolls each having one way clutch members engaging the driven member. One of the clutch members engages the driven member upon rotation in a clockwise direction and disengages when rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The other clutch member engages upon rotation in a counter- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS clockwise direction and disengages when rotated in 21 418167 p/lssg copelin I u N 45/75 clockwise direction. By positioning the handgrip on 2.564356 8/1951 the drive rolls rotation may be provided to that clutch 9/l967 l l/l969 Dianda....

member for rotation and engagement of the driven Wagner...

member in a desired direction for very fine or alterna- Modrey...........r.......i......... 145/50 R tively coarse movement of the screws or other members of like character.

Primary E.\'anzinerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant E.\'aminerMarc R. Davidson 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 41975 FIG. 2

HAND TOOL This invention relates to a class of tools and is directed particularly to improvements in hand tools. More specifically, the invention is for a driver of screws or other articles of like character which are designed to be turned or rotated and in particular where the screws must be turned or rotated to a fine degree after insertlon. Heretofore hand tools used for placing or removing screws and other articles of like character when a reversing action is necessary have normally used a ratchet-like mechanism such as, a ratchet button or slide which shifts from one position to another to provide the desired rotational direction as described for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,272,246 and 3,330,316. While these types of devices are suitable for the purpose intended they are not entirely satisfactory in the case where a tine degree of turning of the screw which may have to be reversed only slightly in direction. This may be particularly difficult where the screw is relatively inaccessible.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to improve hand tools and the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide fastening and adjustment of screws and other like articles where very fine adjustment is required.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a smooth ratchetless type drive member for driving screws and other articles of like character in a smooth operation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hand tool which may be used for extremely fine adjustments to screws and members of like character which may be relatively inaccessible and difficult to see or reach.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description becomes more detailed and will best be understood when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved hand tool; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of a hand tool with certain parts in section to illustrate details thereof.

The tool is illustrated and generally designated by and 12 generally designates the handle of the tool and 14 designates the driver which is herein illustrated as being in the form ofa conventional screw driver having a replaceable blade or bit 15 receivable through a coupling l6.

Normally to reverse rotation of the bit or blade and therefore the screw being driven to a fine adjustment the grip of a screw driver must be changed resulting in a release of the handle of the tool. This may lead to awkwardness and inconvenience where the screw may be relatively inaccessible or difficult to reach. in some hand tools, as for example, those described in the aforementioned patents, a ratchet button or slide is shifted to enable a clutching mechanism to engage and disengage from the driving member and still requries inconvenience to an extent.

in accordance with the present invention the handle 12 is made up of a plurality of drive rolls and 21 which include one way clutches 23 and 24, respectively. Rolls 20 and 21 include cylindrical portions and 31 respectively which are made of elastomeric material. Cylindrical portions 30 and 31 are molded to sleeves 33 and 35 into which are press fitted clutches 23 and 24, respectively. The elastomeric portions 30, 31 are formed with a knurled pattern. A cap member 25 serves to retain the drive rolls 20 and 21 into a snug fit on the driver. A screw member 26 enables the cap to rotate freely relative to the driver. A ferrule 27 confines the drive rolls at the other end. Roll member 20 is arranged to engage the driver in a clockwise direction. Upon rotation of the drive roll 20 in a counterclockwise direction the driver 14 will be free running. Upon rotation of the drive roll 21 in a counterclockwise direction the driver will be engaged. Similarly, upon rotation of the drive roll 21 in the opposite direction or clockwise direction disengagement of the driver occurs. In this manner a driver can be rotated in opposite directions by a choice of drive rolls 20 or 21, by tingers on one hand. As a result a continuous smooth movement is achieved without stopping or adjusting the handgrip or releasing engagement of the bit with the screw being turned.

It will now be appreciated that by arrangement of the drive rolls in the series relationship to the driver that a fine or coarse movement may be imparted to the screw or article of like character for positioning and fine turning of this member. Also where the hand tool is to be used for rotation for insertion of screws or like members without the tine turning manipulation it is easily adapted by removal of the cap 25 and reinsertion of one of the drive rolls so that both drive rolls engage and disengage the driver upon rotation in the same direction. It will be appreciated that additional drive rolls can be added to provide a greater torque and/or hand surface as desired.

By the above described invention screws and members of like character may be rotated with a fine turning a coarse movement at the option of the operator of the hand tool by engaging clutch members acting in series for rotation of a driver member without disengagement of the driver member from the screw and without repositioning of the hand on the handle of the tool. It will be appreciated that a tool of this character is highly desirable where fine adjustments must be made to screw and members of like character which may be inaccessible and difficult to reach and use.

While there have been described and shown and pointed out the fundamental novel features of a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Hand tool apparatus comprising an elongated driven member adapted to receive a blade for driving a screw or the like,

segmented handle means including a plurality of drive rolls each having a passage therethrough, said passages being aligned to receive said driven memher,

said drive rolls each including one way clutches to engage said driven member upon rotation in opposing directions and to disengage said driven member upon reversing the direction of the rotation thereof.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a removable retaining means for holding the drive rolls onto said driven member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rolls include an outer cylindrical member made of an driven member includes a coupling to facilitate reelastomeric material and formed with a knurled patplacement of the blade therefrom. tern- 

1. Hand tool apparatus comprising an elongated driven member adapted to receive a blade for driving a screw or the like, segmented handle means including a plurality of drive rolls each having a passage therethrough, said passages being aligned to receive said driven member, said drive rolls each including one way clutches to engage said driven member upon rotation in opposing directions and to disengage said driven member upon reversing the direction of the rotation thereof.
 2. Apparatus according To claim 1 including a removable retaining means for holding the drive rolls onto said driven member.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive rolls include an outer cylindrical member made of an elastomeric material and formed with a knurled pattern.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said driven member includes a coupling to facilitate replacement of the blade therefrom. 